182: Naming What You Feel
SayTheThings's podcast
In today's episode, I explored how women can move beyond stereotypical emotional expression by developing emotional intelligence and expanding our emotional vocabulary beyond the mere 20 words most Americans use out of 3,000 available emotion-describing words. I discussed how emotions naturally last only six seconds unless we suppress them, and shared practical strategies like practicing the pause, self-regulation, and becoming more intentional in our responses rather than reactions. My goal is to help you understand that your emotions hold value and provide insight, and by learning to express...
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181: Easter Candy Wrappers and Family Doormats: Time to Get Real About Conflict
SayTheThings's podcast
I'm breaking down the ridiculous stereotypes we've been handed about women in conflict – from the "hysterical female" to the "peacekeeper at all costs" – and why these scripts are keeping us small. The research is clear: healthy relationships actually have conflict 20% of the time, and 80% of disagreements aren't meant to be "solved" but understood, which means we need to stop treating conflict like something shameful to hide. I'm sharing specific roles we can step into during conflict that leverage our natural strengths – from Provider to Truth-Teller – so we can move from avoiding...
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180: Stop Apologizing for What You Know
SayTheThings's podcast
In this episode, I'm tackling the impossible position women face in professional settings—we're either seen as competent and cold or likable but unskilled, and honestly, I'm tired of having to choose between these limiting options. I dive into how we undermine our own authority through the words we choose and share practical strategies for speaking with confidence. Your expertise didn't accidentally find its way into your brain; you've earned it through experience, education, and growth, and it's time to stop apologizing for what you know.
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179: Boundaries: Rules of Engagement
SayTheThings's podcast
In this episode, I'm getting vulnerable about my struggle with boundaries, especially with my kids. I share the belief I’ve been operating under which has led me straight into burnout and resentment territory. I walk through my three-step process for setting clear limits and remind you that when people who've benefited from your lack of boundaries suddenly get challenged by your new ones, that's not yours to fix.
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178: Begin Where You Are: The Truth About Healthy Communication
SayTheThings's podcast
In this episode, I challenge everything you think you know about assertive communication - it's not about being aggressive or demanding, but about being authentically you through honest, direct, respectful, and appropriate communication. I explore how women especially have been conditioned to prioritize being "kind and soft" over speaking truthfully, and why the people who benefit from us staying quiet wrote those limiting rules in the first place. We'll dive into practical ways to practice healthy communication. Remember, your voice matters, your needs matter, and healthy relationships...
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177: Beyond Social Expectations Series Intro
SayTheThings's podcast
Welcome to my new summer series where I'm examining the complex reality of communication as a woman and how we can move beyond limiting social expectations. Despite being raised by women who fought for equality and told we could become anything, we weren't prepared for the challenges we actually face - like being perceived as dominating when we speak just 30% of the time or being interrupted twice as often as men. This series will cover essential skills like assertiveness, boundary setting, and authentic expression because I believe our best communication comes not from following rules to...
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176: Co(unter) Parenting with a Cover Narcissist
SayTheThings's podcast
In this episode, I dive into the exhausting reality of co-parenting with a covert narcissist, sharing real examples from my own experience that will sound painfully familiar to anyone in this situation. I break down four key traits that make co-parenting feel impossible: blame shifting, ruining special occasions, chronic unreliability, and weaponizing children's emotions. Through personal stories—from dangerous unsupervised water activities to last-minute schedule changes—I explore how these patterns affect our kids and why speaking up often makes us look like the problem. If you're...
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175: The Shame Spiral that Stole Joy
SayTheThings's podcast
In this vulnerable episode, I share my recent Mother's Day shame spiral and how cultural expectations left me feeling "wrong" for not experiencing the picture-perfect joy we're told mothers should feel. I explore the crucial difference between shame ("What's wrong with me?") and guilt ("What did I do?"), offering practical questions to help identify your own shame triggers and the language they speak. www.brenebrown.com
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174: How Will They Know: The Words We Aren’t Sharing
SayTheThings's podcast
An unexpected wake-up call provided by a high schooler provided me curiosity around what we aren't saying. In this episode, I explore what keeps us silent when we should be speaking up - from our misguided telepathy expectations to the emotional labor calculations we make without even realizing it. Join me for a candid look at the phrases beyond "I love you" that might actually transform your relationships, and the five questions to ask yourself when you feel that familiar urge to stay quiet.
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173: Whelm Was Just the Beginning
SayTheThings's podcast
If you're the one who remembers every birthday, every school form, and every detail of everyone’s life—you might be over-functioning. In this episode, I’m getting real about the hidden emotional and mental load so many women carry, especially in midlife. I share how this pattern forms, why we cling to it, and the high cost it has on our health, relationships, and joy. If you're ready to stop drowning in invisible responsibilities and start reclaiming your energy, this episode is for you.
info_outlineFor years, I thought my inner critic was just echoes of my dad's voice, but the journey took me deeper into understanding the impact of emotional abuse and how it clutters our inner dialogue. I'm sharing my experience and learning to recognize when those "never" and "always" statements are red flags. Come explore how we can choose which inner voice to feed and why self-compassion, not self-criticism, might be our best path forward.
poem by Dana Wetherell